FOOTBALLERS tend to become better the less they play – especially if their team keeps losing games when they are not about.

FOOTBALLERS tend to become better the less they play – especially if their team keeps losing games when they are not about.

A striker who hardly scores or a previously unheralded run-of-the-mill midfielder can be elevated to the role of talisman if, during an injury absence, results decline and the club begin to slide down the table.

If only he had been out on the field instead of stuck in the physio’s room then things would be so much better.

So say managers, supporters and, let’s be fair, journalists.

This rule of thumb, however, does not refer to Yohan Cabaye.

Nobody’s memory has been tricked in his case.

You also do not need statistics to prove how much Newcastle United have missed and will continue to miss the supremely-talented Frenchman, although not surprisingly the stats do support this.

Put simply, United win more games with Cabaye compared to when he is not in the team, as has been the case for the past month after the midfield star succumbed to a groin injury.

The hope is he will be back playing again in February, but he is highly unlikely to be seen before then.

That is way too long for this Newcastle squad to cope without one of the club’s biggest talents.

United boss Alan Pardew has never used the absence of his key men as any sort of excuse, but rather has rightly highlighted the indisputable fact his small squad cannot afford to lose their best players for any length of time and expect to win Premier League matches on a regular basis.

However, few could have criticised the manager for hiding behind an excuse if he blamed his side’s recent slump, in terms of results, at least in part because Cabaye is out injured.

Professional pride prevents footballers speaking of such things because it would be the equivalent of admitting they themselves were not good enough to make up for one of their “better” team-mates being out.

However, it is rather telling both James Perch and Vurnon Anita have spoken about how much Newcastle have missed the classy Cabaye.

These are the two players who have benefited more than most from the 26-year-old having undergone his operation on November 26, in terms of actual game time.

Cabaye is one of the first names on Pardew’s team-sheet.

Had he been fit then neither Perch nor Anita would have enjoyed as much time on the park and that is no reflection on them, rather on how important the former Lille man has become to the club.

Anita said: “Yohan is a really good player for us, an important player, but unfortunately he is not here right now.

“We must deal with this and other players need to step up.

“Yohan is more attacking player than our other midfielders.

“He brings a lot of creativity, just like Hatem (Ben Arfa), who showed that at Fulham.

“We definitely miss Yohan and we all hope he will be back sooner rather than later because he’s a top player.”

So says Perch who is rounded enough to acknowledge that, while he has been given more of a chance over the past four weeks, Newcastle United could do with a fit and in-form Cabaye.

Perch said: “It is really difficult when you have a player like Yohan on the sidelines because the guy is of genuine international quality.

“The gaffer has had to do something and he has put me, Cheick (Tiote) and Vurnon in there and I think we have done okay.

“We were never happy when we lose and we can never say we played too well.

“We were looking to get better every game if we get the chance to play together over an extended spell.”

This midfield trio will need to improve as a unit – and you can add an out-of-sorts Jonas Gutierrez to that – because Cabaye is out for another six weeks.

Of course, there is also no Ben Arfa until hopefully the FA Cup tie at Brighton on January 5.

Cabaye is not one of those who has become a better player during his time off.

However, his importance to Newcastle has been underlined since November 11, the 1-0 defeat to West Ham, which was his last match before he succumbed to his groin.

How much United depend on him is more obvious than ever.

New faces, and Pardew will hope that is plural, will arrive next month, but none will be able to replace the French international.